Cyph. Sir, let me alone
To make the story doleful.
Ware. Go, make you ready then. [Exit Cypher.
Now, Master Seathrift, you may see what these
Young men would do, left to themselves.
Sea. My son shall know he has a sister.
Ware. And my nephew
That once he had an uncle. To leave land
Unto an unthrift, is to build on sand. [Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:
[194] "Talc, in natural history, is a shining, squamous, fissile species of stone, easily separable into thin, transparent scales or leaves."—Chambers's "Dictionary." It was anciently found only in Spain, but since, in several parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. "Some chemists," says the same writer, "and other empirics, have held that talc might be used for many important purposes, and pretend to draw from it that precious oil so much boasted of by the ancients, particularly the Arabs, called oil of talc, which is supposed a wonderful cosmetic, and preserver of the complexion; but the truth is, the word talc, among them, signified no more than an equal disposition of the humours, which keeps the body in good temperament and perfect health. Now, as nothing contributes more than health to the preserving of beauty, this has given occasion to the chemists to search this oil of talc, which is to maintain the body in this disposition, and to engage the ladies to be at the expense of the search."
["Talc is a cheap kind of mineral, which this county (Sussex) plentifully affords, though not so fine as that which is fetched from Venice. It is white and transparent like crystal, full of strekes or veins, which prettily scatter themselves. Being calcined, and variously prepared, it maketh a curious white-wash, which some justify lawful, because clearing, not changing, the complexion."—Fuller's "Worthies," quoted by Gifford (Ben Jonson, iv. 94).]
[195] This was Prynne's celebrated work, entitled, "Histriomastix," &c., which was, by the sentence of the Star Chamber, ordered to be burnt.
[196] The county in which the celebrated Robert Browne (who may be esteemed the head of the Puritans) was beneficed, and afterwards died in gaol, at a very advanced age.
[197] Alluding to the second publication for which Prynne was prosecuted, and sentenced to lose the remainder of his ears. It was entitled, "News from Ipswich, and the Divine Tragedy, recording God's fearful Judgments against Sabbath-Breakers. 4o, 1636." [He published it under the name of Matthew White.]